Love in fast lane for oldest newlyweds
Peggy (84) and James Mason (93) have a combined age of 177 years
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The oldest newlyweds in the world will take a break from their 1,600-mile camper van holiday and mark their wedding with a special St Valentine's Day ceremony in Killarney today.
Peggy (84) and James Mason (93), pictured right, have a combined age of 177 years but seem to have all the energy and vigour of 20somethings as they tour around Britain and Ireland in their Peugeot camper van (pictured bottom right).
"We thought, 'what do old people do on their holidays?' They go on a cruise," Peggy told the Irish Independent last night.
"But we didn't want to go on a cruise, we thought it was boring. So, we said we'd go on the tour and suit ourselves."
Peggy, nee Clarke, who was a widower for 25 years, has been at the wheel as the happy couple make their way from their starting point in Paignton in Devon.
"It's absolutely wonderful," she said. "You know, I wouldn't have driven out of my area before.
"I would only have driven to Sainsbury's and places like that. But I feel I can do anything since I met James."
However, both have taken a break from the camper van for a few nights and are putting their feet up at the Killarney Royal Hotel. Peggy lived in the Co Kerry town for a while in the 1980s and wanted to show the spectacular scenery to her new husband.
The pair met on November 1 last year at the Paignton Day Care Centre and, following a quick courtship, married in a civil ceremony less than three weeks later on November 19.
"I went to the day care centre because I was upset after I had lost my 16-year-old dog," said Peggy. "I didn't want to go on. I called the Samaritans, too."
She says that all changed when she met James.
"We're absolutely devoted to each other. James keeps saying: 'You can find love at any age'. To look into those blue eyes and twinkling smile, it was love at first sight."
The wedding ceremony today will take place in St Mary's Church of Ireland in Killarney.
Niall O'Callaghan, the mayor of Killarney, will be best man for James, who himself is a former mayor of Torbay in the south west of England.
